Device for deactivating automobile door operable electric switch

ABSTRACT

A device is described herein for use in deactivating automobile door-operable switches. The device basically comprises a nonstretchable elongated strap having the ends thereof fixed to magnetic elements. A central portion of the strap is exposed of sufficient length to enable the magnetic elements to be secured to a door post on either side of a door-operable switch. When in position, the central portion of the strap engages and holds the switch button depressed to enable an individual to leave the vehicle door open without activating the dome light or warning buzzer usually activated by the switch.

United States Patent [191 Bourton July 23, 1974 DEVICE FOR DEACTIVATING AUTOMOBILE DOOR OPERABLE ELECTRIC SWITCH [76] Inventor: Hubert Bourton, Star Rt.,

Waterville, Wash. 98858 [22 Filed: Aug. 20, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 339,522

[52] US. Cl ZOO/61.79, ZOO/61.82, 335/285 [51] Int. Cl. H01h 3/16 [58] Field of Search 335/285, 302, 306, 295;

248/206 A; ZOO/61.79, 61.82

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,110,516 11/1963 Sukala, Jr. 335/285 X 3,262,479 7/1966 Leguillon 248/206 A X Primary Examiner-George Harris Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wells, St. John & Roberts [5 7 ABSTRACT A device is described herein for use in deactivating automobile doorroperable switches. The device basically comprises a non-stretchable elongated strap hav-v ing the ends thereof fixed to magnetic elements. A

central portion of the strap is exposed of sufficient length to enable the magnetic elements to be secured to a door post on either side of a door-operable switch. When in position, the central portion of the strap: engages and holds the switch button depressed to enable an individual to leave the vehicle door open without activating the dome light or warning buzzer usually activated by the switch.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures mamas PATENTEUJUL23I9I4 FIG 2 m "DEVICE FORDEACQTIVATINGAUTOMOBILE noon QPERABLE ELECTRIC 'sw rr'cn BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The device of the present invention relates basically to the area of automotive accessories and more particularly to a device for enabling selective deactivation of the common door post switch that normally serves to activate the vehicles dome light and, in the new model vehicles, a'door open warning buzzer, when the vehicle. door is in an open condition.

It is frequently desirable in automobile repair work-to open a vehicle door. and leave it open over an extended period of time. This practice allows easy access for the repairman to the vehicle interior. Most present automobiles however, provide a switch located in the door opening, that automatically operates a warning door open" buzzer and turns on a dome or map light, once a door has been ope'ned The repairman therefore deactivates the electrical circuit connectingthe buzzer and light. This is done basically for two reasons: the first being the fact that the -warriing'b uzzers-are designed to produce a substantially undesirable and irritable soundwhen frequently operated or when operated continuously over a length of time; and secondly, be-

cause both the dome light and the buzzer produce a drain on the vehicle battery. 'The repairman usually deactivates the electrical circuit by removing the overloadfuse connected in the circuit; Often this fuse is also interconnected with other circuits that could be desired to be operable for repair purposes. Further, it is often a somewhat tedious task to first locate the fuse'box, lo- .cate theproper fuse, and. finally removethe fuse and store it until a later time when it" may be replaced. Such:

fusesare normally rather small and are easily misplaced orbroken. I. Consequently it is desirable to obtain a device for deactivating the door operable-switch that is easily attached to and removable from the switch. I

A U.S., Pat. No 2,786,91 l granted to R. C. Morgan, discloses a switch cutout for automobile doors that, is

.comprised of a bracket permanently, mountable to a door post, and a slidable.platemounted-to the bracket that is operable to slide betweenan operative position essarily a permanent fixture-mounted to an automobile.

It would therefore be uneconomical and a substantially deactivating the dome light and warning buzzer, and

wherein the plate engages and depresses the switch button to deactivate the dome light circuit, and an inoperative position spaced away, from the switch to allow it to be normally operatedupon opening and closing the associated door. Although this device'allows' selective operation of the door activated switch, it also mustbe mounted as a substantially permanent fixture tothe Subject automobile. j

A similardevice to the R. C. Morgan invention is disclosed in the E. 'J. Fiorucci U.S. Pat. No; 2,656,427

device for controlling door-operable electric switches that includes a bracket mounted as a substantially permanent fixture to the door post of an automobile and further, includes a slidable button depressing plate which, like the R. C. Morgan device, may be shifted between aninoperative and operative position.

Of, the above cited prior art,..none disclose a device then either leave the device mounted to the vehicle or remove it once the repair work is finished.

1 It is therefore a primary purpose of the present invention to provide a device for deactivating door-operable switches that is readily and easily applied to and removed from substantially any vehicle door or door post. I

It is an addional object of my invention to provide such a device that is very simple in construction and thereby inexpensive to manufacture and purchase. 7 It is a further object of my invention to provide such a device that is designed to enable intentional or accidental closing of a vehicle door on the device without doing damage to the door, the door post, the switch, or

. the device.

These andother objects and advantages will become apparent upon'reading the following disclosure, which takeniwith the accompanying drawings describe a preferr'ed and alternate form of my invention.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THEDRAWINGS I A preferred and alternate embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a door post and door operable switch with the device of the present in- .vention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2,is a plan view of the device;

FIG. 3 is a' longitudinal section taken along 3-3 in DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, the device of a preferred fonn of my invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1,2 and 3. An alternate form of the device is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The device of both the alternate and preferred forms is intended for use on vehicles having door-operated switches such as that generally'desi'gnated by the reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1. Such switches 10 are utilized to close an electrical circuit uponthe opening of an associated vehicle door 13. The circuit supplies electrical energy to operate a dome light and/or a door open warning buzzer. The switch 10 is usually situated on a metal door post 12 adjacent the hinged side of the vehicle door 13 as shown in FIG. 1. The switch 10 includes a spring-biased operating I button 11 which is normally urged to an outward posifor deactivating a-door operable switch that is not nec- I tion. The outward position of the button 11 is shown by dashed lines in FIG. 1. This outward position of button 11 denotes an activated condition of the switch 10 wherein the dome light and buzzer circuit is closed. To deactivate or open the buzzer and dome light circuit, the button 11 must be depressed to the deactivated position illustrated in FIG. l by solid lines. This may be accomplished by closing door 13 or by utilizing the.

present invention.

The device is basically comprised of an elongated strap 14 having outer ends 15 mounted to a magnet means 18. It is designed to enable a repairman to easily and quickly deactivate the switch without necessitating tampering with the electrical circuitry of the vehicle.

Asillustrate d in FIG. 1, the button 11 is depressed by simply applying the device to the door post 12 over the switch 10 with a central strap portion 19 of the strap;14 engaging the button and with the magnet means 18 clamped to the post 12 on either side of the button 11. The magnetic force supplied by magnet means 18 serves to support the device on the doorpost and hold the strap against the button to overcome the tendency of the button 11 to move to the extended or operative position.

The flexible strap is intended to be constructed of metal or synthetic resin having flexible or bendable but non-stretchable properties that provide sufficient longitudinal rigidity to hold the button 11 in a depressed position upon placement of the magnet means 18 on the door post 12. The flexible nature of the strap 14 facilitates mounting of. the device to door posts having differing contours or configuration in the area of switch 10.

In the preferred form, the magnet means is comprised of a pair of magnetic discs 16. The ends 15 of the strap 14 are secured to the magnetic discs 16 by rivets 24 and metal washers 26. The rivets 24 extend through appropriate apertures formed through the discs 16 to mount the strap 14 between the disc surfaces and the washers 26. Recesses 28 are provided in one side of the discs to enable flush mounting of the magnet means to the door post 12. I

The strap 14 of both embodiments illustrated is of sufficient length between ends 15 so that the central portion 19 is exposed over a distance greater than the diameter of button 11, thereby enabling engagement of portion 19 with the button 11. It may be noted in FIG. 1 that the overall thickness of the device, or the distance illustrated in FIG. 1 between the surface engaging the post 12 and the ends of rivets 24, preferably is 0.375 inches, or a distance slightly less than the distancebetween the post 12 and. the end of button 11 when inthe inoperative position. By constructing the device as such, I am able to prevent damage to the vehicle or device by accidental or inadvertant closing of the door 13 with the device still in place on the door post 12.

Looking now at FIGS. 4 and 5, it may be seen that the alternate form' of the present invention simply utilizes the horseshoe magnet 32. The distance between ends 34 of the horseshoe magnet is sufficient to enable the magnet to be placed with a side 35 against the door post 12 with the exposed central section 19 of strap 14 engaging and depressing the button 11. The overall thickness of the second form is similar to that described above for the preferred form.

In operation of both described embodiments, the door 13 is opened to expose the button 11. The device is then placed over the button with the central strap portion engaging the button and with the magnet means attached magnetically to the door post. The magnetic force of. the magnet means 18 and tho longitudinal rigidity of the strap 14 is sufficient to hold the button in the depressed position until the device is removed therefrom.

It may have become obvious from the abovedescription and attached drawings, that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the intended scope of the present invention. It is therefore intended that only the following claims be taken as definitions of the invention.

What I claim is: l. A device for deactivating an automobile dooroperable electric switch comprising:

an elongated flexible, non-stretchable strap; magnet means fastened to the ends of the strap for releasably mounting the device to a door post of an automobile;

said strap including an exposed central portion adapted to contact and depress an operating button of door-operated electric switch to a deactivated position;

wherein the strip and magnet means have an overall thickness dimension less than a distance between the door post and the button with the button in the deactivated position.

2. The device set out in claim 1 wherein the magnet means comprises a pair of magnets mounted to the ends of the strap.

3. The device set out in claim 1 wherein the magnet means comprises a horseshoe-shaped magnet with the.

strap being mounted between ends of the horseshoe magnet.

4. A device for deactivating an automobile dooroperable switch comprising:

an elongated non-stretchable strap; magnet means for releasably holding the strap to an automobile door post adjacent the switch; rivets mounting the magnet means to the ends of the strap; and an exposed central portion of the strap adapted to engage and operate the switch. 

1. A device for deactivating an automobile door-operable electric switch comprising: an elongated flexible, non-stretchable strap; magnet means fastened to the ends of the strap for releasably mounting the device to a door post of an automobile; said strap including an exposed central portion adapted to contact and depress an operating button of door-operated electric switch to a deactivated position; wherein the strip and magnet means have an overall thickness dimension less than a distance between the door post and the button with the button in the deactivated position.
 2. The device set out in claim 1 wherein the magNet means comprises a pair of magnets mounted to the ends of the strap.
 3. The device set out in claim 1 wherein the magnet means comprises a horseshoe-shaped magnet with the strap being mounted between ends of the horseshoe magnet.
 4. A device for deactivating an automobile door-operable switch comprising: an elongated non-stretchable strap; magnet means for releasably holding the strap to an automobile door post adjacent the switch; rivets mounting the magnet means to the ends of the strap; and an exposed central portion of the strap adapted to engage and operate the switch. 